§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can say what Lord Kitchener refers to in the last issued South African Blue Book, in which he states that Botha personally with about 3,000 men passed 1448 through General French's lines at night; can he state the date of that occurrence, as no date is given, and what is meant by passing through lines at night; and whether there was any fighting; if so, with which class of our troops and what were the losses in killed and wounded on each side, British and Boer; and where is General French now.
§ *MR. BRODRICKThe hon. Member has failed to notice that the word used in the despatch is "line," not "lines," and that in this instance the line means a very extended front of over sixty miles. I am not aware of the exact date, but the information as to the period and the losses incurred will be found in the despatch. I have no precise information as to the exact present position of General French.